Columbus has had a successful career as both a writer and a director, with his films having earned more than $4.1 billion worldwid. He wrote Gremlins, The Goonies and Young Sherlock Holmes, and directed two Harry Potter films, Home Alone and Mrs. Doubtfire.

Debuting in 2014, Five Nights at Freddy's is set in the Chuck E. Cheese’s-like Freddy Fazbear's Pizza, where the animatronic animal robots come to murderous life at night. The player, as the nighttime security guard, must survive the shift by tracking the movements of the robots on security cameras. There are now six installments in the hugely popular franchise, with the most recent game, Freddy Fazbear's Pizzeria Simulator, having been released in December. Scott Cawthon, the creator of the series, will produce the film.

Blumhouse has become known for its low-budget horror films, having released Get Out, Insidious and Paranormal Activity, among many others.